Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

We are so lucky to have somebody of her talent as a role model for young people, particularly for young girls. I cannot congratulate her enough. That is why, in my first year in office as Minister of State at the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport, I looked to see who had gained the most from the sports capital programme. Was it the GAA, soccer, rugby or athletics? I looked at the minority sports to see what I could do for them. For boxing, I introduced a situation where, for grants of up to €25,000, a short-term lease would do and the club did not have to own the property. I did that because boxing clubs, by nature, do not have the facilities of other clubs. Over the last three years I introduced a scheme and gave the Irish Amateur Boxing Association €1.2 million in the first year, €1 million in the second year and almost €1 million again last year. I let them administer that all over the country to make sure that basic facilities would be put in place for clubs for the boys, and particularly the girls, who are taking up boxing. I am delighted that I did that.